AST 248: Learning Objectives

A student who masters this course will understand how to think
scientifically.
A student who masters Astrobiology will be able to think critically about data
(observations), and synthesize disparate facts to reach a conclusion in almost
any area where the data can be quantified.

Specifically, a student mastering this course will understand:

the reasoning behind Drake's equation

how to apply estimation techniques in general

how the Sun and stars evolve

the concept of habitable zones

the changing Earth and the evolution of life thereupon

the major bodies of the Solar System

the rationale behind and methods for searching for life elsewhere in the Solar System

the rationale behind and methods for searching for life elsewhere in the Galaxy